Way Back Into Love

Chapter 14

"Let's start eating, shall we?" Luke asked the girl who was sitting in front of him that seemed tense since earlier. "Estelle..." he held her hands, ensuring her that everything is fine and that no one or nothing will further disturb their dinner, "it's fine, let's enjoy our dinner," he let go of the younger's hand and grabbed the proper utensils so that they can start eating.

Luke was having the time of his life, cutting the steak into pieces so that he can easily munch those but his eyes suddenly caught Estelle's figure who remained still. He put back his utensils and looked at Estelle who was also looking at the utensils that were placed beside her plate. "What's wrong Estelle?" he asked, worried about the younger who did nothing but stare. After a few seconds, Luke finally guessed as to what caused this, "you don't know how to use these?" and in answer, Estelle only nodded.

Luke was happy that Estelle was expressing what she felt, though it was not what he expected they were slowly getting there. "Here," Luke exchanged his plates with Estelle and the girl just looked at him with confusion, "what's this?" she asked, politely, scared that she might attract unwanted attention that was exactly what they did earlier. "That's yours, I hope you don't mind though," Luke apologized to Estelle but the girl just shook her head, "no, you did nothing that is to be apologized for and thank you," Estelle thanked Luke who gave her a smile.

"You know what...you should talk a lot more often, I'm open to any topics and I'm a good person to talk with," Luke offered and winked at Estelle who just blankly stared at him, not moved by one bit. "Thank you for your offer doctor--" "Luke..." "-Luke but I would appreciate it if you'll give me more time because you already know that I'm not yet ready to go back on track and I also don't have any plans on coming back to it," Estelle said and Luke just stared at her, bothered of the fact that when they reach Luke's house, Estelle will try something that can endanger her life.

"But-" Luke tried to ease the mood but it seemed that Estelle doesn't want that and Luke could tell what the reason behind it was. It was degradation, too much degradation can trigger something inside Estelle that can change her mood in just an instant, and the perfect example of that was what the couple did earlier to them. They insulted and degraded them too much, to the point where Estelle remained quiet and unable to utter a single word. Even though Luke wanted to know how this type of trauma originated, he stopped himself and will try his best to make Estelle comfortable with him so that the girl can say whatever she wants and Luke can listen to them and give her advice that will surely be useful.

"Let's just eat, alright doctor?" Estelle changed the topic and immediately picked up the utensils and used them the right way which made Luke wonder if what Estelle said earlier about not knowing how to use them was nothing but a lie. "A-Alright," Luke stuttered and also went to his own business but constantly stole glances at the girl so that he can know if Estelle needs any assistance from him.

Their meal was quiet but one could tell that both of them are satisfied with what they ate. "I'll just go and pay, alright?" Luke excused himself which Estelle allowed even though she wanted to pay for her portion but when she remembered that she hadn't gone to her job for days made her shake her head in disappointment 'how can I pay for my meal when I didn't go to work?' she thought and continued blaming herself for not going to work even though she's physically fine.

"Maybe I'll go to work tomorrow and submit a letter of apology, maybe my boss will exempt this," she mumbled quietly, enough for only her to hear. After making the decision that she'll go to work, she leaned against the chair and that when she noticed a familiar face sitting beside her who was also looking at her with big wide eyes. Noticing this, Estelle sat properly and hoped that the person with whom she had eye contact will just let her go but unfortunately, that person approached her, not with good intentions but bad ones, "isn't it the poor girl?" the person asked with her high pitch voice that could irritate the hell out of you.

"What do you want Minerva?" Estelle asked with her unamused tone and in reply, Minerva just laughed, "what's the poor girl doing here? are you here, begging for money?" just before Estelle could answer, she felt hard things that fell on her head and slid to her lap, "sorry, that's the only money I had here," she mocked but Estelle just kept quiet since she doesn't want to cause a scene that would tarnish the doctor's name who showed nothing but kindness to her. So in response, Estelle stood up, making the pennies clash with the floor, creating sounds that could attract other people's ears and attention.

"Where are you going without picking the money I gave to you, beggar?" Minerva asked Estelle who tried her best to ignore this girl behind her. "Why so quiet?" she asked and this time, Estelle turned around and faced her, "don't try to make me lose my patience Minerva, because if you do then I'll make sure that you'll regret it for the rest of your life," Estelle threatened the girl who was shocked by the sudden change of attitude of the girl whom she used to bully in their highschool days.

Instead of letting Estelle off the hook, she tried to press her more and made Estelle lose the last thread of her patience, "where did you get this strong will of you huh? Why are you here by the way? Did you happen to find someone better than that Calyx of yours?...or, did Calyx finally get tired of you?... Finally! I can have Calyx all by myself!" she laughed like a psychopath which made Estelle finally slap her to the point where the sound reached in all of the people's ear that was peacefully enjoying their dinner.

"What was that?" that was what the people asked when they turned their heads around and watched as the drama went on. Minerva was covering her slapped cheek which now turned into bright red but despite the pain she received, she was shocked at how Estelle had the guts to slap her. In her whole life, meeting Estelle was the most beautiful thing she had experienced because she finally had someone to place all her anger. Being born in a rich family was not as easy as one could say, because most of their kids bear the responsibility of being perfect or becoming a role models to others and this is what Minerva had experienced. Because of her status as the Chairman's daughter, she was burdened with the responsibility of being perfect. Minerva tried her best in satisfying what both of her parents want but it seems that nothing is enough for them. When Minerva had enough of it, she almost became crazy and that was until Estelle arrived. When Estelle Mariano arrived, she felt as if she was given a gift from heaven. A girl with no background and who grew up with a family who does not care for her was the perfect thing for her to vent all of her anger on.

That was when hell came to Estelle's life, ever since Minerva started picking up on her other students also followed Minerva's lead which made Estelle's high school life not as enjoyable as others had told her. The first time Minerva laid her eyes on Calyx was when the man came into Estelle's school to notify the head about the bullying that Estelle experienced and that was enough for her to have more reason to bully Estelle more, she wanted Calyx all for herself and constantly threatened Estelle that she'll make the poor girl leave the school if she doesn't give up on Calyx. That alone made Estelle arrive at a decision, because of the love that she had for Calyx, she stopped attending school and started to work instead.

"Look, people! this girl slapped me!" Minerva screamed attracting more attention to them and Estelle just scoffed and remarked, "go ahead, scream and scream. That's the only thing you can do anyway, ask for people's help when you can't solve the issue yourself and also blame all those innocent people who didn't even touch a single strand of your hair," Estelle spat each word with venom. It was true that when some people tried to defend those who are incapable of defending themselves, Minerva made sure that all of them will be punished even if they were just helping those people and when some of them get away with it, she will then blame them and make them take the fall for her actions.

"What are you talking about?" Minerva asked frantically, scared that the people will side Estelle instead of her. "Oh, you think that I will not find out about what you did before? How you blamed those innocent students who tried to help me?" Estelle asked and took each step towards the girl who was now crouching in fear.

"Let me tell you, now that I'm out from school, I can do anything I want to you...that also means that I can also do harm to you," Estelle threatened Minerva more and Minerva did not waste any more time and ran away from the scene. Estelle sighed and went back to her seat, patiently waiting for Luke who paid for their meal. Estelle sat there, calm as if nothing big had happened to her.

Minutes passed and Luke came back to their table to get Estelle so that they can now go home. "Let's go?" Luke asked Estelle and offered his hand while smiling which Estelle took with no more hesitation. Thus, the two exited the restaurant and left people gossiping about them, especially Estelle who handled the situation earlier flawlessly.